739 Manhattan Ave,
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-0024
Emergency Walk-ins Welcome
Periodontist – Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Specialist Gum Care with Dr. Sima Tafreshi
Gum health is the cornerstone of long-term dental health. At our Greenpoint office, Columbia University-trained periodontist Dr. Sima Tafreshi specializes in advanced care for your gums and supporting bone structure. From preventative care to targeted gum treatments, Dr. Tafreshi delivers precision therapy designed to preserve your natural smile.
Signs You May Want to See a Periodontist
If your gums bleed, feel sore, or have started to pull away from your teeth, a periodontist can tell you what is happening and what it will take to stop it.
Gum disease is common and it is easy to miss, because in its early stages it rarely hurts. Most people notice something else first. Any of the following is worth having looked at, not because it is necessarily serious, but because gum problems are far easier to treat early than late.
- Gums that bleed easily: when you brush, when you floss, or at your cleaning appointments. Bleeding is the sign people most often dismiss, and it is usually the earliest one.
- Swollen, puffy, or tender gums: especially if the swelling keeps coming back in the same spot.
- Receding gums: teeth that look longer than they used to, or a notch you can feel near the gumline.
- Tooth sensitivity: a sharp response to cold, heat, or sweetness, particularly where the gum has pulled back and exposed the root.
- A toothache or ongoing soreness: pain that does not settle down on its own.
If you have noticed one of these, you do not need a diagnosis before you call. Let Dr. Sima take measurements and determine whether it's something to monitor or treat. You can request an appointment or call us at (718) 383-0024.
Your Visit with Dr. Sima, Step by Step
Every patient starts with an exam and a set of measurements. Here is how a course of gum treatment typically unfolds at our Greenpoint office.
Step 1: The Periodontal Exam
Dr. Sima uses a small instrument called a periodontal probe to measure the space between each tooth and the gum tissue around it. She works around every tooth in turn and records the depth at several points on each one. Shallow, consistent readings indicate healthy gum attachment. Deeper spaces, often called pockets, mean the gum has separated from the tooth and bacteria have somewhere to collect where a toothbrush cannot reach.
Exam photophoto pending
Those numbers, along with your X-rays, are what Dr. Sima uses to explain your situation and to recommend treatment. They also give us a baseline, so at your next visit we can measure whether things are improving.
Step 2: Deep Cleaning, Scaling & Root Planing
For most patients, treatment starts with a deep cleaning. This goes further than a routine teeth cleaning: Dr. Sima cleans below the gumline, removing the plaque and hardened calculus (tartar) that have built up on the root surfaces inside those pockets, and then smooths the roots so the gum tissue can reattach to the tooth. The area is numbed first, and treatment is often split across more than one visit so each side of the mouth can be done thoroughly.
For many people this is the whole treatment. Once the source of the irritation is gone, the gums have a chance to firm up, and the bleeding and swelling settle down.
Beforephoto pending
Before: Dr. Sima to describe what to look for here: where the calculus has built up below the gumline, the pocket depths she recorded, and the inflammation visible in the tissue.
Afterphoto pending
After: Dr. Sima to describe the evidence of healing: the pocket depths at the follow-up visit, the change in color and firmness of the tissue, and how long after treatment this was taken.
Step 3: Rebuilding Gum Tissue
If the gum has receded far enough to expose root surface, cleaning alone will not bring the tissue back. In that case Dr. Sima may recommend a gum graft, which places new tissue over the exposed area to cover the root, protect it, and rebuild the gumline. Grafting is also what she uses to treat sensitivity caused by recession, and to stop a receding area from continuing to pull back.
Beforephoto pending
Before: Dr. Sima to identify the recession: how much root is exposed, which teeth are affected, and what the patient was noticing (sensitivity, appearance, or both).
Afterphoto pending
After: Dr. Sima to describe the healed result: coverage achieved over the root, how the grafted tissue has blended with the surrounding gum, and the healing time.
Step 4: Rebuilding Bone and Replacing Teeth
Advanced gum disease can damage the bone that supports a tooth, and a tooth that has been missing for a while leaves bone that shrinks over time. Dr. Sima performs bone grafting to rebuild that foundation, and guided tissue regeneration, which uses a barrier membrane so the right tissue grows back in the right place. Where a tooth cannot be saved, she can carry out the extraction and, once the site has healed, place a dental implant to replace it.
Beforephoto pending
Before: Dr. Sima to point out the bone loss on the X-ray or clinical photo, and explain why the site needed grafting before an implant could be placed.
Afterphoto pending
After: Dr. Sima to describe the rebuilt bone and the restored tooth: what the follow-up X-ray shows, and how long the whole process took from graft to final crown.
Dr. Sima’s advice for new patients, to be replaced with her own words. Suggested prompt: what she wishes patients knew before their first visit, and the one habit that makes the biggest difference between appointments.
Dr. Sima Tafreshi, DDS, Periodontist at Brooklyn City Dental
Gum Treatments We Provide On Site
Everything below is carried out here at 739 Manhattan Avenue, by Dr. Sima, alongside the rest of your dental care.
- Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) for gum disease
- Gum grafting to cover exposed roots and rebuild a receded gumline
- Bone grafting to rebuild bone lost to gum disease or a missing tooth
- Guided tissue regeneration to help the supporting tissues grow back
- Sinus lifts to create the bone height an upper implant needs
- Dental implants, placed and restored in our office
- Tooth extractions, including sites that will later receive an implant
- Additional gum surgery as your treatment plan requires
Not sure which of these applies to you? That is what the exam is for. Book an appointment and Dr. Sima will walk you through the measurements and your options before anything is scheduled.
Periodontist FAQs
Why do my gums bleed when I brush or floss?
Gums that bleed when you brush or floss are usually inflamed, most often because plaque has been sitting along the gumline. It is the most common early sign of gum disease, and it is also the one people most often ignore, partly because it does not hurt, and partly because the bleeding comes and goes. Bleeding that keeps returning in the same area is worth having examined.
Why are my gums swollen?
Swollen gums are a sign of inflammation, and there are several possible causes: plaque along the gumline, food trapped between teeth, a tooth or filling that is difficult to clean around, or pregnancy and other hormonal changes. Swelling that keeps coming back in one spot, or that comes with bleeding or a bad taste, should be looked at rather than waited out.
Does a deep cleaning hurt?
The area is numbed before Dr. Sima begins, so you should not feel pain during the cleaning itself. Afterwards, it is normal for the gums to feel tender and for teeth to be sensitive to cold for a few days while the tissue heals. Dr. Sima will tell you what to expect for your particular treatment and how to keep comfortable while you recover.
What is the difference between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning?
A routine cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the parts of your teeth at and above the gumline. A deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, goes beneath the gumline to clean the root surfaces inside periodontal pockets, and smooths those roots so the gum can reattach. Because it reaches further, it is done with the area numbed, and often over more than one appointment.
Do I need a referral to see a periodontist?
No. You can book directly with Dr. Sima at Brooklyn City Dental. You do not need to be referred, and you do not need to be an existing patient here. If you already see one of our dentists, your records and X-rays are simply shared internally, with no separate appointment somewhere else.
Does dental insurance cover gum treatment?
Many plans include some coverage for periodontal treatment, though what is covered and how often varies a great deal between plans. We are in-network with several major insurers, and you can see the full list on our dental insurance page. Our front desk will check your specific benefits and give you a cost estimate before treatment is scheduled.